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City of Borger planning 2011 park rec program

With school just a few weeks from being out, the final touches are being put on the City of Borger’s Park Recreation Program for the summer.Annadon Keys, Johnson Park Youth Center Supervisor, said the program is free and reaches out to children who are in first through seventh grades.“Our goal is that each child receives the same attention, rewards, and fun equally, regardless of financial status,” she said. “It is very important for us to provide an exciting and fun-filled summer to as many children as possible.”This goal has been made even more of a reality thanks to a grant from Hutchinson County Cares, Inc. Keys said thanks to the donation made by the organization, children from Stinnett and Fritch are welcome to participate as well in this year’s program.All meals and snacks are provided free of charge, by a grant from the Borger Independent School District.The program will run from June 6 until July 29 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The city is offering more bus stops for the children this year to reach more children and prevent them from walking a long distance to a bus stop.Children will board the bus and be returned to their respective bus stops, and must be at their stop five minutes before pickup. All buses will be color coded and the children will receive the same color wristband as they board the bus. Children who are dropped off at the park and parents will be picking them up will receive a white wristband.Keys said it is imperative that the children leave their wristbands on while at park recreation. Children must be dropped off no later than 9 a.m. at the park for the program, and there are no exceptions to this rule. When inclement weather is an issue, children will be taken to the Johnson Park Youth Center for emergency pick-up by parents.Aides will offer help and guidance with basketball, volleyball, and baseball. The program will also have daily dance time, where the music will be turned up and kids can dance to the beat.“We have two mottos for park recreation,” Keys said. “Everyone needs a good role model, and Get UP, get out, and get active.”In addition to planned activities, the children will also have the park and water park area to play in, with supervision.The daily scheduled for the park recreation program will be as follows:•Monday – Johnson Park Youth Center – 10:30-11:30 a.m. for fun dramas, puppet shows, and special guests, lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Borger Middle School; fun and games in the park and back to BMS at 3:15 p.m. for snack•Tuesday/Thursday – JPYC; swimming from 9:15 a.m. until 11 a.m.; lunch; back to the park for fun games and BMS for snack•Wednesday – breakfast in the park, fun and games, lunch, skating at the skating rink -12-2 p.m.; BMS for snack•Friday – Fun and games at JPYC, open gym, free pool table and ping pong tables; lunch, City of Borger brings their fire truck to the park at 1 p.m., raises ladder and water hose and sprays water for the children, also there will be special trips to the movies, bowling, and other places to be announced; then off to BMS for a snackKeys said there are special events planned for the children this year.“The Sheriff’s Posse is going to put on a rodeo for the children again, and KACV television and other special guests will make surprise appearances,” she said.The park recreation program does get a special price for skating at $4 per child. The program is asking that each child bring $3 and the City of Borger will pay the additional dollar, which includes a snack and drink for each child. If a child cannot pay, the city will pay the entire amount if needed.Children are asked to dress appropriately. All clothing must exhibit good taste and contain no obscene or offensive words or pictures. Keys will be the judge of proper attire. On swimming days, children must have a swimming suit and towel or they will not be allowed to swim. No cut-off jeans, swimwear with plastic or metal rivets, or swimwear with see through material when wet or dry will be allowed.The City of Borger provides staff members and many extras, which include watermelon, popcorn, popsicles, snow cones, etc., and donates facilities at JPYC and its employees (swimming, gym, youth center).“The Park Recreation Program would appreciate any donation that you could give to help us make this summer special for all children,” Keys said. “Our promise is that every penny that you donate to our program WILL benefit a child in need.”There is paperwork that needs to be filled with both the parent and child present and a photo will be taken of the child to be kept on file by the City of Borger in the case of an emergency situation.To find out more about the City of Borger’s park recreation program for this year, call 231-8979 or 275-9014.